Chapter 618: Discussion on Xiliang in Ganyang Palace

In May of the fourth year of Tiantong, Xue Rengui led his army to conquer Luoyang City and captured the entire Henan County. The news reached Wancheng. Deng Sheng was overjoyed and realized that the war was going well. He destroyed Qin day and night, but the Secretariat Cui Hao poured cold water on him and told him that the war was the most difficult at this stage. At the same time, given that the strength of Li Siye's troops of the West Route Army could not capture Chang'an City, Cui Hao proposed that the West Route Army give up on the march into Chang'an, and instead attacked the eight counties of Xiliang, blocking the last retreat of Qin, so as not to rekindle the Qin State again.

But isn't it so easy to attack the eight counties of Xiliang? The current Xiliang is very mysterious to the people of the Central Plains. They only know that the Qin State started in Xiliang. Among the eight counties of Xiliang, in addition to the Qin people, there are also a large number of Qiang people and a few nomadic peoples. The ethnic composition is very complicated, but apart from that, they know nothing. Even the terrain of Xiliang was not understood. It is undoubtedly a blind eye to attack Xiliang.

"Before the Duke of Jing died, he advised me that the ambition of Qin was a stumbling block for my great Deng to unify the world. Since then, I have secretly ordered Mingjing and the Business Department to strengthen their infiltration of Qin. Needless to say, Guanzhong, even the capital of Qin Chang'an has a spy of my great Deng, and Xiliang naturally has it. However, Xiliang has been turbulent all year round, and Qin's control over Xiliang is very serious. After so many years, Mingjing and the Business Department have only completed the maps of Tianshui County, Longxi County, Wuwei County, Anding County and other places. Jiuquan County, Dunhuang County, Zhangye County and other places, Mingjing and the Business Department are still difficult to penetrate today. Is it appropriate to attack Xiliang rashly? Attacking Xiliang is longer than attacking Chang'an City." Deng Sheng thought for a while and said.

Deng Sheng was of course thinking about attacking Xiliang. Since the pre-Qin period, Xiliang has never been controlled by the Central Plains dynasty. If Deng Sheng could control the eight counties of Xiliang, it would undoubtedly expand the territory. But no matter how much he thought about it, Deng Sheng’s biggest experience now was to impose Qin and Zhao. Even if he wanted to manage the Western Regions, he had to wait until the world was unified. Guanzhong is not yet determined, but instead went to attack Xiliang, which obviously had a sense of losing the roots and chasing the bottom.

Cui Hao said: "Your Majesty, the most important thing in destroying Qin is not Guanzhong, but Xiliang. Although Qin has been in the pass for twenty years, to this day, the most important foundation of Qin is still Xiliang. It is the place where Qin has been operating for more than two hundred years. Now the important military and political officials of Qin are still in Xiliang. In other words, even if Qin does not want Xiliang, he will not care about giving up Xiliang. If our army attacks Xiliang at this time, it will definitely disrupt the hearts of Qin's monarchs and ministers, which will be of great benefit to the battle in Guanzhong."

Deng Sheng also agreed with Cui Hao's statement that although Qin had been in the pass for twenty years, the massacre of Guanzhong during the pass, the people of Guanzhong hated the Qin people very much, so that after Qin entered the pass for many years, the Qin people who had been in the pass for many years were the Qin people who had entered the pass from Xiliang. He had always been very careful about the people of Guanzhong. Although the civil and military officials of Qin have settled in Guanzhong, most of the family foundations of the people of the people are still in Xiliang. Even the Qin royal family, except for the direct lineage of the royal family and some of the nearby royal families moved to Chang'an, other royal families are still in Xiliang. Once Xiliang is attacked, it will inevitably make the Qin people panic. However, Deng Sheng is still very hesitant. It is still the same reason. Xiliang is difficult to fight.

"Cui Qing, I, the great Deng, knows almost nothing about Xiliang. I rashly send troops to attack, and there are only tens of thousands of elite troops. It is probably difficult to make contributions. Moreover, the Qin State has been in charge of Xiliang for more than two hundred years and is deeply rooted. Our army is so adventurous!" Deng Sheng shook his head and said.

"Your Majesty, I don't think so!" Cui Hao said: "At this time, it is precisely tens of thousands of elite troops who can achieve success!"

"Oh? How could Cui Qing see?" Deng Sheng was a little curious. Why could Cui Hao conclude that at this time, sending tens of thousands of elite troops from the West Route to attack Xiliang could make achievements?

"Your Majesty!" Cui Hao explained: "The eight counties in Xiliang are not the only ones in the Qin family. The Qiang people are also very powerful, but they have been suppressed by the Qin people for so many years. After Qin entered the pass, their control over Xiliang was still very strong, but they were much weaker than before. The Qiang people could no longer hold back. If at this time, my Great Deng attacked Xiliang hundreds of thousands of elite troops, the Qiang people would definitely be vigilant against me. On the contrary, our army only has tens of thousands of troops, and the strength of the Qiang people does not have much advantage over the Qiang people. Although the Qiang people will be wary of it, they will never go against our army. On the contrary, when the Qin army is facing difficulties, the Qiang people who have been suppressed by the Qin people will fight back."

"Cui Qing, even if you are right, have you ever thought that our army has only tens of thousands of people. In Xiliang, an unfamiliar place, it is difficult to keep up with all kinds of supplies. After the Qin army was wiped out, how should our army suppress the Qiang people?" Deng Sheng raised a new question, that is, with the strength of the Deng army entering Liang, how should we suppress the Qiang people after the Qin army was wiped out?

Cui Hao smiled and said, "Your Majesty, why do we need to suppress it? The main purpose of our army entering Liang is to wipe out the Qin army in Xiliang, and to cut off the Qin people's retreat and disrupt the Qin people's heart. As for the temporary ownership of Xiliang, our army will ignore it. As long as we take down Guanzhong in the future, we will be able to destroy hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers, just Qiang people."

Deng Sheng finally understood what Cui Hao meant. It was obvious that he sent troops to Xiliang just to eliminate the Qin army's final elite and cut off the Qin people's retreat, not to the land of the eight counties of Xiliang. Of course, it was not to not want the eight counties of Xiliang, but to consider it after taking the entire Guanzhong. After taking the entire Guanzhong, Deng State could easily gather hundreds of thousands of elite troops into Xiliang, and tens of thousands of Qin troops could suppress the Qiang people. Can the Deng army hundreds of thousands of people still not suppress it? Of course, this is impossible.

But Deng Sheng was still hesitant. If the Deng army only wanted to eliminate the main force of the Qin army, instead of managing Xiliang, then when the Deng army withdrew from Xiliang, the eight counties of Xiliang would definitely fall into the control of the Qiang people. During the time, the Qin people who had a century of hatred with the Qiang people would definitely be slaughtered by the Qiang people. In Deng Sheng's view, both the Qin people and the Deng people were Chinese, while the Qiang people were different. Deng Sheng could not accept it for a while.

"Cui Qing, have you ever thought that once our army eliminates the main force of the Qin army and evacuate Xiliang, how will the Qiang people in Xiliang treat the Qin people who stay in Xiliang?" Deng Sheng said.

Cui Hao knew that Deng Sheng was compassionate, so he persuaded: "Your Majesty, Qin has been in charge of Xiliang for more than 200 years. The Qin people in Xiliang only recognize Qin. Even if I, Da Deng, destroy the main force of the Qin army and occupy the eight counties of Xiliang, the Qin people will not agree with my Da Deng. Instead of managing Xiliang in the future, it is very unfavorable for my Da Deng to operate Xiliang in the future. Instead of letting Da Deng be this evil person in the future, it is not for the Qiang people to do it. Only when the Qiang people kill the Qin people sorrow and kill the Qin people to be terrified, my Da Deng uses a righteous army to pacify the Qiang people. The Qin people will definitely be grateful to me, Da Deng, so that the eight counties of Xiliang can be safe for a long time!"

Deng Sheng was very struggling when he heard this. He admitted that Cui Hao was right, because only in this way can he quickly integrate into the eight counties of Xiliang into Deng State, but doing so would be a disaster. When the two countries fought, Deng Sheng would not hesitate at all, but Deng Sheng was the people who were slaughtered, so Deng Sheng was not so open-minded. However, after weighing the pros and cons, he decided to make up his mind. Deng Sheng is not the ordinary person in later generations, nor the unscathed boy when he first ascended the throne. Deng Sheng is now the emperor of Deng State, and everything he does must be based on the interests of Deng State. Cui Hao is right. The short-term massacre is for better long-term stability. Besides, this evil man is not Deng State, but Qiang.

After a long struggle in his heart, Deng Sheng sighed and asked Zhang Bin, who had not spoken aside, "Zhang Qing, what do you think?"

Zhang Bin thought for a while and said, "Your Majesty, I think Cui Xiang's words are reasonable. As the saying goes, one general succeeds and thousands of bones are dry. Besides, there are many people loyal to the Qin State in Xiliang. Instead of letting me, Da Deng, it is better to take the Qin people and get rid of them. However, I think that if you want to conquer Xiliang, another place is very important!"

"Where?" Deng Sheng asked.

"Wudu County!" Zhang Bin said: "Wudu County borders Hanzhong County and Longxi County, one of the eight counties of Xiliang. If Wudu County can be controlled in our hands, the troops, horses, food and grass from our Hanzhong County can be continuously transported to Xiliang. It is very important for our army to attack Xiliang. Therefore, I think that if you want to make a difference in Xiliang, you must base yourself in Wudu County!"

Wudu County, bordering Hanzhong County, was always the frontier position of the Han Dynasty to resist Qin State. After Qin entered the pass, he also obtained Wudu County. Later, after Deng State destroyed Shu, Qin State arranged heavy troops in Wudu County. After the Battle of Hanzhong, Deng State seized Hanzhong County. In order to prevent Deng State from invading Xiliang, Qin State had always arranged a large number of elite troops in Wudu County. Last year, Deng's army gathered troops and horses in an attempt to attack Guanzhong, Qin State transferred back the troops of Wudu County in order to resist Deng's attack. Now, Wudu County is a huge Wudu County, with only a few thousand Qin troops, so it is very easy for Deng State to capture Wudu County, but Deng State has always focused on the counties in Guanzhong, so it was just ignored. Now that Deng Sheng decided to attack Xiliang, Wudu County has become very important.

"But in this way, our army must give up the land of Guanzhong such as Mei County, return to Hanzhong and attack Wudu County!" Deng Sheng said that although Wudu County is a land of Qin, it is south of Qinchuan. Therefore, if Li Siye's army wants to attack Wudu County, it must return to Hanzhong County first.

"Your Majesty, it is useless for General Li Siye's western army to continue to stay in Guanzhong. It would be better to return to Hanzhong, attack Wudu County, and march into Xiliang." Cui Hao said.

Deng Sheng thought for a while and said, "Okay, since that's the case, I will pass on my will and order Li Siye to command the army to return to Hanzhong to attack Wudu County, and order Zhuge Liang, the governor of Shuzhong Road, to prepare all the food, grass and supplies needed for the army to enter Liang."

"Here!" Cui Hao and Zhang Bin responded.

In the fourth year of Tiantong, on the tenth day of June, Deng Sheng's imperial edict was sent to the front line of martial arts. Li Siye was very hesitant after receiving the imperial edict. After all, he had fought for a long time in Guanzhong, and wiped out all the main forces of Qinchuan in Qinchuan and took down the frontier position of Mei County. As long as he took down Wugong County, he could reach Chang'an City. It's a pity to give up like this now.

"General, what does Your Majesty mean? Now we are striving to march towards Chang'an. At this time, let us attack Xiliang. Isn't this going to waste the truth and chase the end?" Chang Mao said in the central army's tent with great dissatisfaction.

In this battle in Guanzhong, Chang Mao was shining. He first burned the Qin army in Chencang and then attacked Mei County first. Now he was looking forward to being the first to climb to the top of Chang'an city. However, at this time, Deng Sheng asked them to attack Xiliang. Isn't this to give up attacking Chang'an?

"General Li Jing, what do you think?" Li Siye ignored Chang Mao's complaints and asked Li Jing. As Li Jing's cousin, Li Siye knew very well about Li Jing's ability. If it weren't for the qualifications and age here, Li Jing could have taken over the General Governor's Office, so at this time, Li Siye chose to believe Li Jing.

Li Jing thought for a while and said, "Your Majesty and the adults in the court have made a lot of sense. With the strength of our army, even if we take Wugong County, there is no way to take Chang'an City. If it were the previous Chang'an City, our army might have a chance, but now the Zhao army has settled in Chang'an City, it is impossible for our army to take Chang'an City. Instead of wasting time in Guanzhong, it would be better to attack Xiliang, the foundation of Qin."

Li Siye nodded. In fact, during this period, Li Siye has no hope of taking Chang'an City. However, once he turns to Xiliang, it means that everything Li Siye did to conquer Wugong County has become useless. It is a pity. However, now that Deng Sheng’s imperial edict has arrived, he cannot resist the imperial edict, so he nodded and said, "Then let Meiyang’s Yue Lei Peace Pedal Chapter come back. After they come back, we will withdraw our troops and return to Hanzhong to prepare for the attack on Wudu County."

Originally, Li Siye sent Yue Lei and Chang Mao to attack Meiyang City at the beginning, but later Li Siye transferred Chang Mao back and sent Li Pingzhang to the scene.

"Here!"

On June 15, in the fourth year of Tiantong, Yue Lei and Li Pingzhang led their troops to return to Wugong from Meiyang. On the 17th, Li Siye led a large army to evacuate Wugong County, took the route to Ji County, and returned to Hanzhong County from Baoxie Road.
Chapter completed!